Precious Delight

The word "overflow" is not typically associated with anything good! The overflowing of a toilet or a glass or a room at capacity sends us into immediate action or an alternative plan. God tells us in His Word: "Delight yourself in the LORD" (Psalm 97:4). Oh, how I need to preach these words to myself as I often allow circumstances to bring-on anxiety, confusion and fear! Charles Spurgeon writes, "The teaching of these words must seem very surprising to those who are strangers to godliness, but to the sincere believer it is only the statement of obvious truth." (Morning and Evening). Those who have not made it a habit to sit quietly at the feet of The Savior and savor His Presence cannot know know the overflowing and sustaining delight found only in Him. In those moments with Him, a tethering takes place - an attachment, a fastening - of God to His child. The delight of those moments unite me to Him in a way that cannot be explained, only personally experienced. Psalm 34:8 says we must personally "taste and see" His goodness. Overflow is a result of that "taste and see" and it is a ... precious delight.

BLOG BREAK

Enjoying a week with the family  

MWB will resume Monday 06-15
Stay in The Word!
Miles of Smiles, Beverly 

 

Read The Book

It's not uncommon for places to have a "Lost and Found." Our Dustin kept his school's "Lost and Found" in business! During the reign of King Josiah, a discovery was made: "Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, 'I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD.' And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan who read it. ... Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king saying, 'Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.' And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king." (2 Kings 22:8, 10, NASB). We must not miss the tragedy in spite of such a tremendous discovery: the Book of the Law (God's Word) had been lost! I fear this sounds too much like today. The psalmist wrote, "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your Word." (Psalm 119:9, ESV). Purity of heart comes with continual meditation on the pure and perfect words of God. Let's me clear on this matter: the Word of God is never lost. Rather, as a nation, a church and individuals, we have given priority to other things instead of that which is The Lamp to our feet and The Light to our path (Psalm 119:105). The neglect of God's Word always shows itself in our lives. Today - yes, right now - is the perfect time to open His Word and let It re-prioritize our lives. Do not delay - today ... read the Book!

All But Christ

Two-sided tape has its good use and proper place but it's tricky to work with! Once unfurled, its double-sided stickiness makes it stick to everything! Oh, the foolishness of mankind when he attempts to cast off all rule except his own. David wrote of those who say, "let us break apart their [divine] bands [of restraint] and cast away their cords [of control] from us." (Psalm 2:3 AMP). In other words, there were (and are) those who say, "let me just do my own thing." Perhaps you've heard someone say, "the Lord helps those who help themselves." Those who take the reins of their own lives are surely bound to end up "stuck" where they never intended to be ... stuck! God's response when we are so determined to live as we please, "He Who sits [enthroned] in the heavens laughs [at their rebellion]; the [Sovereign] Lord scoffs at them [and in supreme contempt He mocks them]." (Verse 4). I'm amazed at my own self-confidence as I plow-on in fool-hearted sufficiency; amazed because I most assuredly end up in the same sticky place as on previous occasions. God graciously and kindly warns us: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5 ESV). You see, God has appointed and firmly installed a King - He is Jesus, the One Who rules and gives us rest. Why do we put ourselves in such a state of distress time and time again when we have an almighty and perfect King! In the face of so many other rulers of the wandering heart, cast-off ... all but Christ.

Your King

You could be one whose mailbox has exploded with campaign materials; if you are not, you must not t have a mailbox! I regret to remind us all, there are many months yet to go before election season is past. Psalm 2 says, "Why are the nations in an uproar and the people devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed." (Verses 1-2) NASB). Most likely, David was referring to the nations of his day that confronted him as God's appointed king of Israel. The line of Davidic kings came about because the people said to God: "give us a king to judge us" (1 Samuel 8:6). In Verses 11-18, God warned His people that an earthly king would make demands of the people - taking, taking, taking from them to the point that the people would ultimately become servants to the king who ruled over them. The saddest truth is what God said of His people, and a sad truth even today: "they have rejected Me from being king over them" (1 Samuel 8:7 NASB). How easily we forget that every time we disobey, we reject God as king! We, of course, have elected leaders and it is our civic duty to have a voice in electing them, let us remember there is a King Who rules perfectly in truth and justice. Should we expect those we support to lead in the same way - absolutely, yes we should! More importantly, we should ask ourselves: who is ruling my heart and defining how I live? Those who profess to know and love The Lord understand we submit to a higher authority. Who is ... your king?